Taking Clinic
The Clinic internship is open to all qualified senior law students. Interns are certified to appear before federal, state and municipal courts and administrative agencies. Washburn Law Clinic provides free legal services to Shawnee County residents who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Interns represent these clients in a wide range of civil and criminal proceedings. Under the supervision of faculty, students engage in lawyering activities in actual cases. These functions include conducting interviews, providing advice, negotiating with opponents and litigating in court.
Our clinic "law firm" is staffed by five experienced attorneys who are also law school professors. Students work under the direct supervision of these attorneys and are guided through every aspect of representing the clinic's clients. The clinic operates as a general practice law firm and provides representation in a number of practice areas: Children and Family Law, Criminal Defense, Tribal Court Practice, Civil Litigation, Criminal Appellate Advocacy, and Small Business and Transactional Law. Students enroll for one semester for either 4 or 5 credit hours in an area of concentration of their choosing. Opportunities to do a directed internship exist and students may enroll in 1 to 3 credit hours if they are selected to do a directed internship.
Conflict of Interest and Certification Requirements
Because of potential conflicts of interests, students who are working for the Topeka City Attorney or the Shawnee County District Attorney may not concurrently enroll in Law Clinic. Students must be eligible to apply for a student practice license as set forth in Supreme Court Rule 719. The Law Clinic will not accept the enrollment of any student not eligible to apply for admission to the bar of the State of Kansas under Supreme Court Rule 715 and 716. Interns must pay a $50.00 fee to the Clerk of the Supreme Court for their student practice certification.
Litigation Clinic Prerequisites
- Evidence
- Professional Responsibility
- Completion of 60 hours
- Grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
For more information about the Washburn Law Clinic, contact Debi Schrock, Managing Director, at 785-670-1191 or debi.schrock [at] washburn.edu.
